ALPINE TOWNSHIP — Perrin Brewing Co., which is building a 23,000 square-foot microbrewery in Comstock Park, got a provisional nod from officials this week on plans to add a restaurant and hop garden to their operation.

“We’re really going to bring some solid, quality jobs to the area,” said Jarred Sper, co-owner of the brewery at 5910 Comstock Park Drive NW.

The new plans are the second expansion already for Perrin, which doesn’t even open until June or July, said Sper. In November, Perrin got approval for a large addition to house a beer tasting area and internal coolers. They received approval for a microbrewer license in December.

“I think everybody is genuinely pleased with what they saw,” said Township Supervisor Alex Arends. The board will consider the plans next month for final special land use approval

The new brewery is a gamble by Sper and Randy Perrin of Perrin Properties LLC, who are hoping to ride the craft beer industry boom taking place in Michigan. Randy Perrin is a successful area clothing manufacturer who owns Perrin Resort Apparel.

Their microbrewery is the largest of several new brewery projects underway in the Grand Rapids area. They are planning to brew 2,500 to 3,500 barrels of beer the first year and have room onsite to expand if the venture proves successful.

Sper said they are focusing on getting their draft beers on tap in the local market ahead of a planned canning operation and wholesale distribution.

The new brewery is meant to be a destination, Sper said. They are consulting with Empire Orchards of Traverse City on the hop garden, which will be a landscaping element that’s harvested to produce a specialty brew when the crop is ready.

They are building a full-scale kitchen to serve a roughly 2,600-square foot, 218-seat restaurant with a large main floor, small a loft area and outside covered beer garden.

The restaurant menu is still being finalized, Sper said, but will feature locally-sourced foods and simple, seasonal selections. Proposed hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.

The brewing equipment will be installed later this spring. Sper did not reveal the name of the company’s brewer, who will be guiding tours, but said the man has previously worked for Lagunitas, Goose Island and Harpoon brewing companies.

The beer styles so far include a “wit,” or white, a porter, India Pale Ale, American Strong Ale, an all-Michigan hops-brewed IPA and several seasonal specialties.

“We’re building this brewery so we can host tours,” he said. “We’re starting from brick one, essentially, so that we’re able to be ready for a tour bus to pull up unannounced.”